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Title: Mother Mort’s Carnival of Souls
Created by: Matt Hughes
Included book by: Hope Hughes (concept), Marie McWilliams (Written by), Matt Hughes (illustrations and layout), and William Parker Stoker (editing).
Publisher: Ethereal Visions Publishing, first edition printed by U.S. Games Systems Inc
Number of cards: 32
Card size: 5 x 3.5 inches
Box size: 8 x 5.5 x 1.75 inches
Guidebook pages: 76
Purchased or gifted?: Review copy gifted by creator, Matt Hughes (Ethereal Visions Publishing)
Absolute favorite card: Mirror Mary
Other favorites: (in order from most beloved) both Siren cards, Lightbringer, Mother Mort, The Memento Mori Machine, The Amazing Sluagh, The Ngenechen, Mister Cain - The Banker’s card, Hoodwinks
Notable detail: green foiling on card faces, amber foiling everywhere else, included book
Season: Spring/Fall
Sabbat: Beltane/Scorpio
Sign: Taurus/Scorpio
Element: Earth
Tarot Deck compliment: Ethereal Visions Tarot
Collective Pull: Kismet

First Impressions

Right from the start, you can tell this deck is going to be amazing. The level of detail is really spectacular. From the beautiful box to the included story and not to mention the green foil. I’m so impressed with the project as a whole. So much so that I immediately went to Matt’s website to see what else I can buy from him. This is one of those keepsake decks I know I’ll treasure for a long, long time. And it's unique. I have to admit, I’ve found myself a bit bored with the tarot and oracle industry a bit lately. Even with my own decks if I’m honest. I’ve been asking myself how my industry can feel more fresh and original for quite some time.

Don’t get me wrong, there have been plenty of beautiful, well thought out decks but very few who are pushing the industry forward. At least in my opinion. I’m not saying this deck is changing the face of oracle cards but it does stand out for sure. So let’s dive into all of the juicy details but before I do that, I want to note that the artist version which is what I have is currently on sale on Matt’s website and these are limited edition. So if you want it, I would really recommend getting it sooner rather than later.

The Packaging

The packaging is phenomenal. First of all, the box is rock solid and is going to last for a very long time. I could honestly use this as a keepsake box if I took the cards out. It's also really pretty and sophisticated. It's the kind of box that you could keep on a coffee table and your not so mystical friends and family would have no idea it's an oracle deck. At the same time, it would look right at home among Anthropologie/Terrain type Halloween decorations. You can tell Matt has a really strong sense of aesthetics and has created a stunning project.

And you’re in for a treat when you open the box. You’re greeted with an “Admissions ticket” bookmark which you will probably see in many of my photos moving forward. You’ll see the same admission ticket inside of the lid along with some flourishes, skulls and moths. Just under the ticket is a full book—not a guidebook but a full story. Here, you can learn about the card’s characters in depth and be entertained with a delightful story. Plus, it’s hardback which definitely gets extra points.

Then you’ll find a full-color guidebook underneath and finally the cards themselves which feature stunningly bright green foil sides. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this color foil or nothing comes to mind. It's really quite striking, especially against all of the black and amber. In fact, I guess I shouldn’t say foil because it is actually matte but it kind of looks like foil. It's so vibrant that it literally shines.

I could’ve been more than happy with all of that but then I took the plastic off of the cards only to discover each card has foil on the face. My favorite use of foil is on Mister Cain - The Banker’s card. His goggles have green foil lenses and it really gives him an eerie, "I'm watching you vibe.” You also get a special signed card in this edition. Be sure to have a look at the photos down below.

The Guidebook

The guidebook is small but really nice quality. The paper is fairly thick and it's in full-color throughout. Sometimes a guidebook will be sold as full color but then all of the meanings are black and white with a few color elements here and there. I don’t really think that counts. This is full-color on every page, featuring images of the characters throughout.

You get a really nice introduction; I appreciate a lengthy intro. You get some information on how to use the cards, inspiration for single, two and three card spreads and finally some additional thoughts. As for the meanings, each card comes with a short backstory so you can get to know the characters from the carnival and the interpretation. I found the meanings to be clear and insightful and I have enjoyed reading about each of the characters throughout.

The Artwork

The artwork is gorgeous and similar to Matt’s other decks if you’re familiar with his work. My favorite card is Mirror Mary. It's kind of disturbing in a beautiful way which is just my cup of tea. It's easy to look at this image and feel fear but what I see is a veiled woman, forcing a young girl to face herself in the mirror. I’m often asked, "What does it mean to be a witch?” My answer is that being a witch means looking at yourself honestly and deciding to either love what you see or to do something to change it. It means empowering yourself to be the truest version of yourself possible and to know that you can face hard truths and be better for it. This card sums up everything I believe a witch to be. The girl I see here is on her way to becoming a powerful woman who can face her darkness and her fears, all because of this singular moment.

I love decks that feel deep in this way. This is a profound card and you will find many others like it throughout this deck. Whenever you get a new deck or even with an old one, try to look deeply into the layers. See how your own experiences mirror that of the cards within your hands. You don’t always have to know what the guidebook says to have a deeply moving and insightful understanding of a card.

“Guided and governed by Mother Mort—a powerful three-formed goddess who, throughout the years, has gone by such mythological names as Hecate, Trivia, or Ereshkigal—this Carnival of Souls is a magical space where cleansing, both good and bad, can take place.”

If you’re interested in learning more about how to sense and feel and connect deeply with tarot cards, consider enrolling in my tarot membership: The Seer’s Guild where I teach you what it means to truly see.

A few cards have alternate images. You can choose the one that you like most or leave them all in the deck. I prefer to leave alternates. Sometimes I’ll pull two versions of the same card and I always feel like that’s a sign for me to really pay attention. I’m especially fond of the Siren alternates. In fact, I was just talking to a friend about sirens the day before writing this review. Funny, we were talking about good versus bad sirens and that’s pretty much what you get with the two versions. I don’t really want to say good versus bad because who’s to say one is good or bad? But you definitely get a more scary one versus a more serene, gentle looking one. Perhaps it's the same siren but on two different days?

Be sure to scroll down to the bottom to see plenty of photos of this amazing deck.

Purchase Carnival of Souls

Reading With this Deck

I like reading with this deck. The meanings are clear and easy to understand without being overly abstract. I have a lot of decks that I love but can live without the guidebook. That’s ok for me because I don’t need the guidebook to have a profound reading experience but I do like the option of having the guidebook if for no other reason than inspiration. And when a book is too poetic or abstract or fluffy, it leaves you wondering what the card is actually about—-especially if you’re a beginner. I don’t get that here. I’ve found every message I’ve read so far to be pretty straightforward.

I’ve also enjoyed how positive my readings have been. Now I’ll admit, I don’t mind a dose of tough love and heaven knows that’s how I approach writing my own oracle decks. But it is nice to have a pretty joyous reading and that’s how my readings have been. I appreciate how some of the cards feel scary and even disturbing but the messages always feel encouraging and even lighthearted. That could just be my perspective right now and perhaps that will change at some point but for the moment, I’m really enjoying the whimsy of this deck. Truly, it almost feels like getting a reading at a carnival. I can almost smell the popcorn and fire dancers, hear children laughing in the background and the ringleader sharing stories of remarkable beasts. Which means, this deck is an experience. If it can conjure up sights and smells and sounds, then you know you’ve got a good one.

Collective Pull

I pulled Kismet for you and what a wonderful card to receive. It is extremely positive, bringing a message of good fortunes to come. Luck will soon be on your side, opening the door to amazing opportunities that may even seem too good to be true. Don’t worry as the appearance of this card is confirmation that you can trust and receive the blessings coming your way. Don’t be afraid my darling. What seems like danger is really a playful, soft bellied beast looking to shower with love and joy. Open your heart, release your fear and soon, all will be not just well but immensely positive and abundant.

Season, Sign, Element and Sabbat

In astrology, there’s an idea that there are really only six signs, expressed in two different ways. That the sign opposite another sign shares the same energy but goes about it in the opposite way. Scorpio and Taurus for example are two sides of the same coin. They may seem drastically different on the surface but at their core, they both seek luxury, power, comfort and sensuality. Mother Mort’s Carnival of Souls really reminds me of the Scorpio/Taurus dynamic. In fact, I see both fall and spring in this deck. I see both Beltane and Samhain in this deck. And I especially see both Scorpio and Taurus in this deck.

You have the moodiness and slightly disturbing energy of Scorpio and Samhain but with elements of the lush indulgence and bright energy of Taurus and Beltane. The black and amber easily lends itself to fall while the vibrant green is spring all day long. So take your pick. I could see this deck working well in both the darkness and the light.

Having said that, Matt’s artwork has always had a very Taurean energy in my opinion. His very clear art nouveau style and elegance feels like a very Taurus aesthetic. I just wanted to point that out.

The element is the only thing that I felt fit strongly into one category which is earth. This deck is very grounded and something about a carnival traveling around makes me think of the earth in general.

Who is this deck for?

Previous fans of Matt Hughes shouldn’t second guess this one. In fact, it's my favorite of his offerings so far. I also think it's pretty fun if you’re someone who likes to root for the discarded and overlooked. If the idea of strange characters that are gentle and kind beneath the surface is your thing, then I think you’ll enjoy this deck.

I highly recommend getting the artist edition directly from Matt’s website. They are limited so be sure to pick it up as soon as you can. I also pre-order his newest deck: Lady Stirling’s Garden Oracle. Be sure to keep your eye out for the review of it once it arrives.

Tarot Deck Companion

I will almost always recommend a deck from the same creator if it's available and Matt has Ethereal Visions Tarot which isn’t the same color palette but the same style. You could use the Luna edition but I don’t think there’s enough of a difference between the two to rush out and get it if you don’t already have it. I actually feel like Ethereal Visions Tarot brings a nice, light energy to Carnival of Souls and perhaps puts it more firmly in the spring/Taurus category. Another deck I really like with this is an old deck that I’ve had for a long, long time but is still one of my absolute favorites—Legacy of the Divine Tarot.

It shares that carnival type energy even though aesthetically, they aren’t a perfect match but I get the same energy in both. I will always advocate for aesthetics. I don’t care what anyone says, having something beautiful that fits your vibe is as much an act of self-care and personal development as anything else. But there is also something to be said for things that just feel good together, even if they may not look like a seamless pairing.

Thanks for reading all the way through. If you found this review to be helpful, informative or entertaining in any way, please be sure to leave a comment down below. It really helps me know what you’re enjoying so that I can provide more content based on what you love. In the meantime, please enjoy a variety of photos from this deck.

And of course, if there is something you’d like me to consider reviewing, please comment below or email me at hello@spiritelement.co